Abstract

A total of 90 samples comprised of powdered infant formulas (51), follow-up formulas (21) and infant foods (18) from 15 domestic and imported brands were purchased from various retailers in Klang Valley, Malaysia and evaluated in terms of microbiological quality and the similarity of rehydration instructions on the product label to guidelines set by the World Health Organization. Microbiological analysis included the determination of aerobic plate count (APC) and the presence of Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter spp. Isolates of interest were identified using ID 32E (bioMerieux®). In this study 87% of powdered infant formulas, follow-up formulas and infant foods analyzed had aerobic plate counts below the permitted level of < 104 cfu/g. These acceptable APCs ranged between < 102 to 7.2 x 103 cfu/g. The most frequently isolated Enterobacteriaceae was Enterobacter cloacae which was present in three infant formulas 2and one infant food tested. Other Enterobacteriaceae detected from powdered infant and follow- up formulas were Citrobacter spp., Klebsiella spp. and other Enterobacter spp. No Cronobacter species were found in any samples. Rehydration instructions from the product labels were collated and it was observed that none directed the use of water with a temperature >70°C for formula preparation as specified by the 2008 revised World Health Organization guidelines. Six brands instructed the use of water at 40-55°C, a temperature range which would support the survival and even growth of Enterobacteriaceae.